More

Manning’s Family Saddened By 35-Year Sentence

US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning leaves a military court facility after hearing his verdict in the trial at Fort Meade, Maryland on July 30, 2013. A US military judge convicted Bradley Manning of espionage Tuesday, leaving him facing a lengthy jail term despite clearing him on the most serious charge that he 'aided the enemy.' Colonel Denise Lind found Manning guilty of 20 of 22 counts related to his leaking of a huge trove of secret US diplomatic cables and military logs to the WikiLeaks website. She said she would begin sentencing hearings on Wednesday, at the Fort Meade military base outside Washington where the trial was held. If Lind decides to impose penalties in the higher ranges permitted under the charges, the now 25-year-old Manning could face a de facto life sentence of more than 100 years in jail. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning. (Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

HANOVER, Md. (AP) — The family of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning says they are saddened and disappointed in the 35-year sentence he received for giving troves of military and government secrets to WikiLeaks.

Manning’s attorney David Coombs read a statement from the family Wednesday during a news conference.

The statement from the family said Manning’s intentions were good and he believed he was acting in the best interest of this country. They also thanked his defense team and supporters around the world and said the fight was not over.

Manning’s uncle Kevin Fox told BBC television that the soldier shouldn’t have been given any time at all and he called him a hero. Fox is Welsh, like Manning’s mother, who is reportedly in poor health.